Thermometer-case.



FRANK R. HART, OF SUISUN CITY, CALIFORNIA.

THERMOMETER-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 22, 1908.

Appli-cation mea october 4, 19o?. serial No. 395,890.

' To all whomY it may concern:

Be it known thatl, FRANK R. HART', a citizen of the United States,residing at Suisun Cit Y, in the county of Solano and State of ("aliornia, have inventedncw and useful Improvements in ThermometewCaSes, ofwhich the following is a. specilieation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a clinical thermometercase of cheap and simple construction, which will prevent diseasespreading by the conveyance of germs from one person to another, andmore Aeli'eetl'lally than is accomplished at present by the mere washingand wiping of the thermometer after use, which precautions are sometimesneglected.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 'vide a device of thischaracter which will avoid dri ping of the antiseptic liquid from thecap oi)the case when the thermometer is removed, occasioned bycollection of said liquid therein by the case standing inverted for aconsiderable length of time.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an enlarged vertical section ofmy improved thermometer case, with the thermometer therein; Figs. 2, 3,and 4 are cross sections on the lines 2 2, 3 3, 4 4, respectively of YFig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the outer tube 1 of the thermometer case isclosed at the bottom, and within it is contained the inner tube 2,formed of a hard, tenacious, coherent material, such as rubber. Saidtube 2 is screwed into the outer tube at the to and has an annularenlargement or shoulf er 3, milled on its outer surface, and resting onthe t-op of the outer tube when the inner tube is screwed into place.The outer tube is sufficiently longer than the inner tube to form areceptacle 4 for an antiseptic liquid.

The inner tube is spaced from the outer tube a minute 'distance only,such as would cause the antiseptic li uid to ascend between 4 5 the twotubes by ca ililarity when the case is erect, and the liqui can passfrom the space between the tubes by capillary pciforations 5 through thetube 2 to the interior thereof, where it comes in contact with thesurface of 5.3 the thermometer 6.

To charge the case with the antiseptic liquid, the inner tube isunscrewed, the liquid is then supplied, preferably with a dropper, andthe inner tube is again screwed into place.

- lhen not in use, the physician should carry the thermometer in aninverted position, which will insure the thermometer being moistened bythe liquid, and since the apertures 5 are of'capillary dimensions the 60liquid will not flow out of the. liquid rece tacle to any considerableextent even a- -though the case is maintained inverted.

However, in order to prevent the liquid collecting in said cap by longcontinued inversion of the case I provide the. following construction.

The inner tube 2 is threaded on the outside at the top, as shown at andthe case is closed at the. top by a screw cap 8. Within said cap isformed, above the screw thread, an annular shoulder 9, and on saidshoulder rests a sleeve 10, t-he outer surface of which is cylindrical,while its inner surface is angular and conformed to tit closely aboutthe thermometer. After inserting the sleeve 1() in the ca i, a plug 11is forced into the cap, completeiy closing it at the top, which plug isnot afterwards removed- Since the sleeve tits closely around thethermometer, no liquid can collect between said sleeve and thermometer.At the same time, although the exterior surface ol the thermometer isnot circular, but more nearly triangular in cross section, this does norprevent the ca J being unserewed, for, when 1t is unscrewe the sleeve 10does `not have to turn with the cap, but the. cap can turn on thesleeve, or the sleeve within the cap relatively to it.

I claim:

1. A thermometer case comprising an outer tube, an inner tube formed ofhard, tenacious and coherent material, and having an inner surfaceconformed to fit closely against the thermometer when in position, andhaving therethrough capillary passages for conducting a liquid to saidthermometer, said inner tube being screwed at the to within the outertube, and the bottom of saiId inner tube being spaced from the bottom ofthe outer tube to rovide a receptacle for a. liquid, substantia y asdescribed.

2. A thermometer ease formed to provide a receptacle for liquid, alsoformed with an opening angular in cross section adapted to tit closelyaround an angular thermometer therein, also formed with capillarypassages.l for conducting a liquid from said rece )tacle to thethermometer therein, in com ination with a cap screwed on said casehaving a cylindrical in ner surface, and an inner sleeve containedwithin the cap, and freely rotatable therewithin, having a cylindricalouter Surface, and an' opening angular in cross seetion conformed to fitclosely around :in angular thermometer, substantially as described.

3. A thermometer case formed to provide av receptacle for a liquid, alsoforined with angular inner surface adapted to fitclosely around anvangular thermometer therein,

10 ducting a liquid fi'oin said receptacle to the thermometer therein,in combination Wit-li a.

cap screwed on said casel having a. cylindrical inner surface,` and anouter-sleeve contained within the cap, and freely rotatable theref Ialso formed with capillaiypassages for con agees, 44

s and an langular inner surface eonfoiined to fit closely around anangular thermometer,

\\'1tluii, having a cylindrical outer surface, 1a

said cap being provided with means for pcr-

